Protect assets and infrastructure from vagaries of climate change

Kenya has lost over 228 persons from the effects of the ongoing floods and extreme weather conditions. Infrastructure and other assets and livelihoods have been affected and much funds will be needed in the coming days to restore normalcy. Climate change experts and other stakeholders are in agreement that we are in the era of global climatic changes, and what is being witnessed now may continue for a long time to come, hence humanity should better be advised to prepare, adapt and mitigate these effects for the long haul. Kenya National Adaptation plan (2015-2030) and the National Climate Change response strategy recognize that climatic change is here to stay, and provide for actions geared towards making our economy and infrastructure resilient enough with the anticipated changes. These policy documents call for development that takes into cognizant the reality of climate change. To ensure that our infrastructure and other developments can withstand extreme weather and climatic conditions, there is need to institutionalize climate change proofed development, which is a methodological approach through which countries integrate issues of climate change into the development planning and implementation. The resultant development projects are more climate change resilient and sustainable while ensuring effective adaptation and coping mechanisms. Extreme and intense weather conditions like flooding and heat waves can lead to loss of biodiversity, migration, conflicts and health threats due to emerging disease resistant conditions.

Features of climate change proofed development includes infrastructure which is done in a way that in case of flooding, mobility of people, goods and services are not affected or can be restored immediately, so that loss of life and destruction of property is minimized to the lowest level possible. Infrastructure should have adequate and anticipatory drainage, slope stabilization works, houses that are ring-fenced from strong winds and flooding, water catchment areas should not be interfered with and where damage has occurred, there is need for restoration and afforestation programmes. In the history of civilization, which began in Mesopotamia, Egyptian, Indus valley and Inca among others, civilizations which did not properly consider climatic changes in their development process like Ur and Uruk were abandoned; while those that incorporated climate change issues like Egypt survived. We ought to learn from antiquity and take adequate measures to undertake climate change proofed development and prepare adequately for the same. Climate change may pose national security challenges and inability for national defence systems hence there is need to shore up support for the government efforts in creation of State Department for Environment and Climate Change, by elevating climate change issues into national and security priorities.